Canon HV20

HD goes retro.

It's hard to imagine a retro market for something as new as High Definition, but Canon is chasing it nonetheless. The HV20 shoots in 1080i and records on to ye olde MiniDV tapes.

Build quality is plasticky and the 2.7-inch display lacks sparkle, although the stabilised 10x zoom is just peachy.

A 60-minute MiniDV tape holds 60 minutes of High-Definition footage, and brings with it all the usual clunking and winding, and a torturous PC upload process. Luckily, it also delivers crisp HD footage and, thanks to that video light up front, it's handy at night. Still photos are a touch on the small side but pin-sharp.

Canon is making the most of tape's Hi-Def second lease of life, but there will come a point when it just can't compete.

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